Their own brand of soul

Franklin Graham Festival brings Christian music, entertainment

The eight members of the band Salvador have the power to win over
crowds through their multicultural sounds combining lively horns,
catchy guitar licks and the soulful vocals of Nic Gonzales, but they
haven't forgotten about their main critic.

(To give you a hint, "Salvador" is Spanish for "savior").

"We try to do our best to take people through a musical journey
through pop music and Latin music, and I do believe that there is a
presence of worship at every show," said lead vocalist Gonzales, who
got his start in a family trio at the King of Glory Church in Austin,
where his parents are pastors. "Our band was birthed around praise and
worship. I am a praise and worship leader."

Tonight the 2004 Dove Award winners for Spanish Language Album of
the Year for "Con Poder" will kick off the concerts at this weekend's
South Texas 2005 Franklin Graham Festival to be held at American Bank
Center.

When it boils down to the music, think Dave Matthews Band and Los
Lonely Boys. Salvador did a cover of "Heaven" on its fifth full-length
album "So Natural" last fall on Word Records.

But even after the concert's over, Salvador continues to minister
through acts of kindness.

"We are certainly trying our best to be more effective as actual
people - showing people we just don't play music and disappear,"
Gonzales said.

This summer the band released "Que Tan Lejos Esta El Cielo (How Far
Is Heaven)," an English and Spanish compilation, and started the
Salvador Foundation to help the people of Honduras.

"When we went down there, our hearts went out to the people.
Honduras is a country we are currently trying to minister to," said
Gonzales, 27, whose first visit to Honduras was five years ago during
Hurricane Mitch relief efforts.

Gonzales has worked to help boost the country's economy through
purchasing a tortilla machine to help a village thrive, raising funds
to build wells and opening a computer lab for students.

"We're certainly in a cool spot to be able to do things like that
and we're certainly going to take advantage," Gonzales said.

With eight in the group, Salvador goes through frequent member
changes - when musicians attend college, change careers or get married.
Nic's older brother, Art Gonzales, recently retired from the band to
spend more time with family.

"I think that people think there's some kind of strife in the band,"
Nic said. "What people don't know is that we get along just very well
and that reason why people leave sometimes is not because of a band
problem. It's mainly because they want to pursue another chapter of
their lives."

For youths interested in keeping a Christian lifestyle, Gonzales
offers this advice:

"I think we are a product of who hang around with," he said. "I
think we are also a product of what we feed our mind - television,
books and magazines."